Legends Football League team relocating to Toledo

Toledo’s Huntington Center will be the new home of a Legends Football League (LFL) team.

Legends Football League

The league announced Dec. 17 that its Cleveland Crush franchise will move to Toledo.

The women’s 7-on-7 tackle football league, which started in 2009, was formerly known as the Lingerie Football League. Players wear helmets, shoulder pads and cleats — but little else.

League founder and chairman Mitchell Mortaza is enthusiastic about the move, and said Toledo will be a good location for the team.

“Cleveland is an incredible sports town and the [Quicken Loans] Arena is one of the finest arenas in the country. While it was an incredible combination for us, it simply did not fit within our business model moving forward,” Mortaza said in a news release. “Toledo and specifically the Huntington Center is an incredible setting for LFL Football and it also provides proximity to draw athletes, coaches and fans not only from Toledo but Cleveland and Detroit as well.”

The team will be called the Cleveland Crush of Toledo, according to Tyler DeHaven of the league’s media relations office.

The LFL features teams in the United States and Australia and will expand into Europe in 2015.

Huntington Center General Manager Steve Miller said the LFL approached the venue staff.

“The Huntington Center offers a wide variety of programming. We look forward to a successful relationship with the LFL,” Miller said in the release.

The team will play two home games at Huntington Center: May 10 and June 21. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com, at (800) 745-3000 or at the Huntington Center box office.